The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment on whether
this case is connected with the extensive FBI search for bodies in Holmes Run Stream Valley Park in Mason District last May. “We can’t comment on anything
like that that would compromise the investigation of the case,” said public
information officer Joshua Stueve. The indictment alleges that at
least one of the victims was buried but doesn’t say where.

The 13 indicted defendants are in custody and are awaiting
further court proceedings. The court documents were unsealed Oct. 17.

According to the nine-count indictment, three of the defendants
– Jose Lopez Torres, 25, of Falls Church; Juan Carlos Marquez Ayala, 21, of
Falls Church; and Omar DeJesus Castillo, 21, of Arlington – “together with
others known and unknown to the grand jury, knowingly and intentionally
murdered Nelson Omar Trujillo” on or about Oct. 7, 2013, in Fairfax County.

Those three, with the alleged assistance of defendant Alvin
Gaitan Benitez, 21, of Falls Church, buried the body of Trujillo.

The indictment also alleges that Del Cid, Jesus Alejandro
Chavez, 24, of Alexandria; Genaro Sen Garcia, 19, residence unknown; and
possibly others murdered Julio Urrutia in the City of Alexandria on or about
June 19, 2014. The indictment alleges Chavez killed Urritia by shooting him
with a firearm.

In addition, the indictment alleges that Torres; Romero
Cruz, 28, residence unknown; and Jaime Rosales Villegas, 30, of Richmond “knowingly
and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together and
with each other and others to murder an unnamed person” in Woodbridge on or
about Sept. 29, 2013.

Eleven of the defendants face the maximum penalty of death or
a mandatory sentence of life in prison if convicted. The other two, Villegas
and Cruz, face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on the attempted murder
charge and a consecutive minimum sentence of 10 years for the possession of a
firearm charge.

One of the court documents provides some background
information on MS-13, which it describes as “a violent international street
gang involved in a variety of criminal activities, including murder,
obstruction of justice, drug trafficking, and sex trafficking.” MS-13 operates
throughout the United States, including Virginia, and has a large international
presence in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.

MS-13 recruits members predominantly from the Hispanic
community, the document states. “Recruits are ‘jumped in’ to the gang by being
physically beaten by members and associates while a member counts to 13.”

MS-13 members are required to use violence, threats of
violence and intimidation to protect the power, reputation and territory of the
gang. One rule of the gang calls for MS-13 members to “confront, fight, and
kill rival gang members, known as ‘chavalas,’” using fists, machetes, firearms,
or whatever weapons are available. Another rule prohibits cooperation with law enforcement, and
gang leaders can authorize the murder of anyone who violates this rule.

MS-13 members often wear blue or white clothing and clothing
displaying the number 13 or numbers that total 13, such as 76.

MS-13 is organized into local groups known as “cliques” that
hold regular meetings. Each clique is run by a senior leader known as the “First
Word,” and gang members are known as “soldiers.” The Park View Locos
Salvatruchas (PVLS) is an MS-13 clique operating in Northern Virginia.

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